Vapor engine system



Aug. 26, 1969 w. A. MOORE VAPOR ENGINE SYSTEM Filed May 13, 1966 Fig. .l

/ INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,462,951 VAPOR ENGINE SYSTEM William Arthur Moore, 346 Leming Drive, San Antonio, Tex. 78201 Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 551,495 int. Cl. FOlk 25/00, 19/10; FOlm 1/12 US. Cl. 6064 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closed circuit vapor expansion engine system for use as a prime mover. The system includes the prime mover itself having a power output means extending therefrom and a boiler for supplying heat to the working fluid of the prime mover. A condenser means serves to remove the working fluid from the prime mover and is in communication with the boiler so as to resupply it with working fluid. The working fluid such as steam is utilized with a miscible lubricant so as to provide but a single engine fluid thus obviating lubrication and lubricant recovery problems and enhancing engine life. The engine further includes a hermetic casing thereabout for containing pressurized fluid that inherently escapes from the engine such as through the output and valve shafts. By use of a subsystem feed back control the pressure between the engine and casing is maintained at or near ambient pressure, thereby reducing or eliminating to a large degree leaking of working fluid through the seal in the engine hermetic enclosure.

The present invention pertains to improvements in prime mover system of the vapor expansion variety, such as, reciprocating and turbine steam engine systems. Reference to a steam engine in this context is intended to include all conventional steam engines.

A most substantive deficiency in the prior art in steam engines has been the leakage of fluid (steam) from the system at the various seals. As a consequence, it is necessary to replenish or makeup the fluid which is lost in operation. Therefore, careful monitoring of engine operation and makeup requirements has to be carried out in order to insure safe and effective operation. Another problem with steam engines heretofore has been the problem of lubricating the piston and other moving parts and then contending with this lubricant when it is exhausted into the condenser. Since condensed steam and petroleum lubricants are immiscible, this lubricant causes fouling of condenser and boiler surfaces as well as foaming in the boiler.

The present invention is therefore directed to an improved vapor expansion type engine which captures all leaking fluid and feeds them back into the system, hence eliminating makeup requirements. The invention also obviates the deleterious effect of an immiscible substance in the working fluid in the condenser and boiler. These and still other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description, claims and drawing and wherein:

The figure is a schematic illustration of the improved vapor expansion engine system.

With reference to the drawing there is shown the prime mover 1 which may be a rotating turbine vapor expansion engine, a reciprocating piston vapor expansion engine or the like. Completely enclosing the engine, except for the access cover 10, is the hermetically sealed casing 2. All moving type seals on openings in the engine are thus kept within a single sealed enclosure where escape vapours may be trapped and returned to the sys- 3,462,951 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 ice tem. Communicating with the engine is a boiler 5 for heating the working fluid to requisite operating temperatures. The temperature required for operation of the engine may, of course, vary in accordance with the working fluid used. It is found, for example, that a fuel similar to Freon 22 (R22) can develop 600 p.s.i. pressure upon application of only a 300 F. flame and that this fluid is also miscible with the lubricating oil. A condenser 9 also communicates with the interior of the engine so as to remove exhaust vapors and cool them for conversion to a liquid state for recirculation. Condenser vacuum is accomplished by means of pump 8 connected by conduit to the condenser. A condensate vessel 7 is disposed in the conduit between pump 8 and boiler 5. An appropriate pump 6 operatively placed in this conduit to supply fluid back to the boiler and thus provide a closed loop recirculating system.

In furtherance of the effectiveness of the engine enclosure, a conduit 11 communicates between the interior of engine enclosure 2 and an automatic valve 12 in the conduit from condenser 9 to vessel 7. In this manner the suction to pump 8 will maintain a predetermined pressure in the engine enclosure through the functioning of valve 12. By proper control of valve 12 the pressure differential across seal 4 can be held to a minimum, thereby reducing the tendency of this seal to leak. Also the wearing pressure on seal 4 is reduced. It may be recognized however, that the moving seal 4 could be entirely eliminated in a modification of this system and power transmitted by electric current through fixed seals in the engine enclosure with a generator coupled directly to the prime mover inside the engine enclosure.

Although Freon is indicated hereinabove as a working fluid for the system it may be pointed out that other fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerants and similar materials may be the working fluid while a standard petroleum product could be used for the lubricant.

That which is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A vapor expansion type engine system in which the expanding vapor constitutes the force for activating a drive means,

heating means for elevating the temperature of a working fluid so as to increase pressure in the engine, condenser means for removing vapor from the engine and cooling it to a liquid state,

conduits and pumps connecting said heating means and condenser means to the interior of the engine and for connecting said condenser means to said heating means so as to transport the fluid through the system and provide a continuously recirculating source of working vapor to drive said engine,

an enclosure disposed about said engine so as to hermetically seal the engine therein, and

means for automatically regulating the pressure about said engine within the enclosure.

2. The vapor expansion type engine system described in claim 1 in which the expanding vapors consists of a Working fluid having a lubricant dispersed therein to thereby provide a fluid for both operating the drive means and for lubricating moving parts within the system.

3. A vapor expansion type engine system in which the expanding vapor constitutes the force for activating a drive means,

heating means for elevating the temperature of a working fluid so as to increase pressure in the engine, condenser means for removing vapor from the engine and cooling it to a liquid state, and

conduits and pumps connecting said heating means and condenser means to the interior of the engine and for connecting said condenser means to said heating means so as to transport the fluid through the system and provide a continuously recirculating source of working vapor to drive said engine,

an enclosure disposed about said engine so as to hermetically seal the engine therein, and

means for automatically regulating the pressure about said engine within the enclosure,

the expanding vapors consisting of a working fluid having a lubricant which is miscible therein.

4. A vapor expansion type engine system in which the expanding vapor constitutes the force for activating a drive means,

heating means for elevating the temperature of a working fluid so as to increase pressure in the engine, condenser means for removing vapor from the engine and cooling it to a liquid state, and

conduits and pumps connecting said heating means and condenser means to the interior of the engine and for connecting said condenser means to said heating means so as to transport the fluid through the system and provide a continuously recirculating source of working vapor to drive said engine,

an enclosure disposed about said engine so as to hermetically seal the engine therein, and

means for automatically regulating the pressure about said engine within the enclosure,

the expanding vapors consisting of a working fluid comprising a fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerant.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown.

Brown.

Bernard 6039.08 XR Mierley.

Von Zborowski 60-39.08 XR Hertl.

Dittman 60-36 XR Tabor et a1. 60-36 Deinhardt 6039.08 Kenney 62468 XR Brown 62-468 XR Phillips 62-470 XR Shoemaker 62 -468 XR Zwickl 62470 XR Kramer 62468 XR Webber 62-470 Olsen 62-470 XR Ross 62470 XR Schneider et a1. 62470 XR Rayner et a1 62--470 XR MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner R. R. BUNEVIC'H, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

